On a chilly Saturday night last winter Phoenix and I were tuckered out from a day of playing yet still wanting to cook up some savory meal. Low and behold after we dashed off to the grocery store we gathered up the ingredients to make a delightful Grilled Veggie Pizza.

The house was buzzing with excitement and uncontrollable energy!
Me whispering, “Pssst Phoenix, start buzzing with excitement…” Darn kid…

I’m definitely anal retentive about lining up all of my ingredients on the counter like cast members ahead of time. Yes, Parsley was still stalking me at the time as you may remember from The Morning My Hot English Lover And I Had Our Party Crashed story. She’s not even a part of this recipe the psycho leafy hoser beast!

I got started with some extra virgin olive oil that I buy in the big ol’ containers. That is the expected expiration date written across the front of it since it was not on bottle.

I chopped up some fresh garlic…

Then the same to some bright, fragrant pine nuts…

They all got tossed into a food processor with basil (I LOVE fresh basil and will use it every chance I get), parmesan cheese, salt and pepper. This is the best focused picture of the shaft spindle instead of the ingredients EVER! Pin it ladies! And David Lebowitz eat your heart out.

Phoenix to you guys, “Gawd, I hope this is the part where Daddy forgets to put the lid on it again like last time. Oh please, please forget…it’s soooo funny…” Ahh, the good ol’ Supervisor had awoken from the tile entryway…

Man’s Smart Ass Best Friend

Ha! Focused after blending…who’s your Daddy?! Homemade pesto sauce.

I decided it needed to be a bit thicker to my liking so I added a few more basil leaves and pine nuts after this.

I then went through the painstaking task of making a pizza dough from scratch…

I then did NOT go outside in the 20 degree night and grill the yellow and red peppers on a bbq grill that I do NOT own. But, I did improvise and use the electric burner and it worked great. First time I had ever done that!

Phoenix, “And the Fire Department only responded once!!”

I sliced up some zucchini and squash and sautéed them in butter and olive oil…

Doing my best Edward Scissorhands impression I accidentally knocked one of them onto floor with the knife and my Golden Retriever Patriot Missile Intercept System was all over it. And promptly spit it out.

I spread the pesto and some additional olive oil across the Boboli…

A generous sprinkling of goat cheese…

I know you think some of those zucchini may look overdone. I did too until I took a bite of one and said, “Oh my gawd that’s good!” The bite melted in my mouth literally with a buttery flavor to it. I didn’t hesitate to put them on the pizza.

Generous Obscene slabs of Mozzarella…

After I had added a wheel spoke of the grilled and sliced red and yellow peppers and let bake in the oven for 15 minutes at 450 degrees I had a very colorful, delectably delicious cheeses Grilled Veggie Pizza. I was kicking myself for not taking a picture of it from directly above…

Then I poured my first pint…

Phoenix, “It was his third pint.” Nobody likes him! *wink*

I sprinkled some parmesan cheese on top and sliced that sucker up…

While this was by far not my best cooking/photo journey despite how easy the recipe was it turned out really delicious. I was just having an off the The mozzarella and goat cheeses were melted perfectly and every bite had a fresh, bright vegetable lightly soft crunch to it. The fresh pesto sauce on the toasted but light airy on the inside crust kept it all married together perfectly.

This post we are sending a big thanks to our friend Mette at Italian Notes, whose blog I discovered last year. She and Henrik write about their adventures, travels and food delights in Italy! Her home cooking and pictures are out of this world and I love her history insight to the various places they visit. She always includes a map in her posts and being a map freak I absolutely love that! Thank you so much for always supporting Phoenix and I, Mette! Please click on over the Italian Notes and see what I mean!

Mike Vogler

I have been told (many times) that I really need to write a book about my life. The past 50+ years have been an exciting ride, and these days I find myself with a great many passions. However, I feel that this website is a much more personal way with which to share my musings, stories and commentary.

Yep. Fooled me on the pizza dough thing too. (Phoenix, thanks for keeping your old man honest;-) Mike, that looks delish and you certainly have a way with “you are there” food descriptions. You don’t even need the photos—just a thousand words.

Superb description!! Lovely pictures! You enjoy cooking SO much…we never click so many pics while cooking! You seem to enjoy each part…from collecting the ingredients to eating it! Oh! it is mouth watering!
Thanks for sharing… I can almost taste it!

Love you Phoenix for keeping daddy-o honest. Now you know why we love dogs that can count. I’m not sure if reading your story, while drinking a beer, made it more delectable or because I love pizza. While I ponder this deep thought, I’m heading for my second beer since I’m one behind you.

LOL to dogs that can count! Ironically he can for real, Neva, with some things! 🙂 Ahh, a second beer is often even better than the first. Unless it’s that first one when you are parched on a super hot day! I love pizza too 🙂

I’d have to skip the goat cheese in this picky house, but umm.. amazing. Only 10:40am for me right now and I think I need this.
I laughed aloud at psycho leafy hoser beast. It’s a bit of a Wayne’s World reference, right?

I’m so thrilled you came over here from Tamara’s blog, Claudia! The pizza was really good and yes Phoenix is always at the ready despite my every attempt to not let food fall of the counter. He doesn’t get people food 🙂

I LOVE home made Pizza, especially veggie delights 🙂 Last night David made yummy Chicken Pizza with yummy veggies.
We normally make our pizza bases but last night we used premade pizza bases as we were out of time.
Next time you have pizza let us know, we will pop on over 🙂 !!!!
So does Phoenix like Veggie pizzas too?

That’s seriously one of the best looking veggie pizzas I’ve seen. And that mozzarella portion is perfect if you ask me! Do you like mushrooms? If so, using Boboli, I make a mushroom pizza with a garlic base, 3 kinds of mushrooms, and Gouda. It’s sooooooo freakin’ wonderful! Now I’m craving veggie or mushroom pizza! Mmmmm…

It actually looks pretty good being that it goes against everything I believe in about pizza. (the only time there should be veggies on pizza is its there to keep all the meats company!) But still looks delish! And now I want pizza!

You’re a proper Master Chef! The pizza looks fantastic and so easy to make. You should already know how much I love eating vegetarian dishes. That’s a great alternative for a Sunday meal. I’m back home this Friday and I’ll cook one on Sunday if the time allows me to do it :). Thanks for the recipe. I guess Phoenix had a big bite, didn’t he? 🙂

OMG! This looks amazing, Mike (no matter what Phoenix says) ruff, ruff. I would like to try this recipe. I used to always use a ‘Boboli’ pizza crust when we made pizzas with the kids. It was delicious! Thanks, Mike!

He is on a very strict doggie diet, Jess. He always has been and his recent bout aside, I would like to think it’s help keep him very healthy. Albeit there are some people food that are said to be good for dogs! How about Gillman? 🙂

Why do I always end up reading your posts when I’m hungry? We’ve been making a ton of pesto lately because the herb garden has gone crazy this year. Might have to give a grilled pizza on Boboli crust a try 😉

I am very impressed by your efforts in the kitchen. You take the visual part of the meal seriously and it shows in how gorgeous this pizza is.

I’m with you on basil I grow it and can’t get enough of the fresh stuff. Perhaps you’d like to offer online cooking classes It would be nice if my wonderful hubby had even 1% of the interest in cooking that you have.

Hope you and Phoenix are thoroughly enjoying each others company this summer. I think Torrie is glad we’re gone for a week so she doesn’t have to climb any mountains.

What a nice comment and thank you so very, Leigh! Yes, yes on basil 🙂 Your compliments make me say, “Ah shucks…” 🙂 Torrie may enjoy the break but I know she will miss you guys terribly! Just just reminded me of when you were in Southern California just now and your husband missing her 🙂

As always, Mike, your dinner looks delicious. I would have bought the Boboli as well…but my daughter chastises me everytime. She will NOT settle for any pizza dough that’s not hand-tossed…brat! Hi to Phoenix!

LOL…I can already picture Phoenix were I too even think to attempt to toss a pizza dough! One or the both of us will likely get covered in it. But, that does sounds amazing and there is nothing like homemade dough. Phoenix says hi back 🙂

Mike, move that pizza out of the way…I’m trying to listen and watch Phoenix…
What a character. I just love the captions. I bet that is EXACTLY what he is thinking!
I do not like goat cheese. Someone had told me that if you think about barn while eating it, you can actually taste barn. Maybe I’m just eating bad cheese? Damn Canadians.
Have you tried to make your own dough?
Beer?
House?
You haven’t lived until you’ve nailed your thumb to a wall.
Well if it is you we are talking about then yes, you have probably nailed your thumb to a wall. I shouldn’t mention the great stapler incident of 2003 right?

Yes, methinks you haven’t eaten good cheese, Kimberly! LOL…”a barn..” Still laughing over that!! No, I haven’t tried making my own dough yet! Dough in general and I have not come to a mutual understanding but will someday work on that again 🙂

And you are being totally psychic about the nail and hammer!! OMG…it’s in my next post!! Wow..

Yum! Well, except for the peppers. I’m not a pepper fan but I’d remove those add something equally as good. My son on the other hand would probably love this. He’s a big pepper fan. Especially sweet peppers.